BEARS, VODKA, BALALAIKA!
- November 6, 2019
- Rabotiagi games
Get on Steam"Bears, Vodka, Balalaika!" is a single-player Role Playing Game set in World War II-era Soviet Union, where you play as a Russian soldier defending your Motherland with an AK-47. The game features realistic shooting, the ability to heal by drinking vodka, and play balalaika, alongside a beautiful story, good gameplay, splendid visuals, and a compelling soundtrack. The game captures the truly Russian spirit with its atmosphere, weapon, and humor. Trading cards are now available.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and humorous premise of playing as a bear armed with an AK-47, drinking vodka, and shooting T-posing Nazis, which many players found entertaining.
- Players appreciated the easy achievement system, with many able to complete all achievements in under 10 minutes, making it a fun and quick experience.
- The soundtrack, including traditional Russian songs, was well-received, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and shallow, with a lack of depth and variety in mechanics, leading to boredom after a short time.
- Many players reported technical issues, such as poor controls, buggy animations, and T-posing enemies, which detracted from the overall experience.
- The game was described as lacking in content, with only one map and one enemy type, making it feel like a low-effort project or 'shovelware'.
- music48 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the captivating soundtrack that includes traditional Russian songs like "Katyusha" and the ability to play the balalaika, adding a unique cultural touch. However, players have criticized the limited number of tracks and the lack of looping, which can detract from the overall experience during longer play sessions. Overall, while the music enhances the game's atmosphere and evokes a sense of national pride, improvements in variety and functionality are desired.
“The music makes the game; this is one you won't forget.”
“One interesting feature is the ability to play the balalaika, a traditional Russian musical instrument, which adds a unique touch to the game.”
“The soundtrack and graphics are amazing, making you feel truly immersed in the Russian landscape, while giving you a feeling of great national pride for Mother Russia.”
“If you try to play for too long, the background music can eat away at your brain, let me warn you beforehand.”
“You could say I don't get the joke, but if I made this, I'd care enough to properly loop the Soviet anthems instead of having the music go dead silent exactly two minutes after most people stop trying to 'get it.' With less than five minutes of action, this has no value even as a joke game.”
“The only flaw is that the music does not loop, which allows for the steel focus to continue standing after taking countless bullets to the torso, but alas, can I be warmed up with the fiery pride in the motherland without my favorite song after the first minute.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its immersive and dynamic mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive, buggy, and shallow. Unique elements like health replenishment through vodka and fast-paced action are highlighted, but many players find the overall experience lacking depth and variety. Overall, the gameplay seems to evoke strong reactions, ranging from enjoyment to frustration.
“The game's fast-paced gameplay, unique mechanics, and sound design are also top-notch, with realistic sound effects and music that sets the mood of the game perfectly.”
“Amazing controls, surreal graphics, outstanding gameplay, unbeatable physics, and overall the best shooter game I've played.”
“Immersive, extraordinary gameplay.”
“It's buggy and has bland, repetitive gameplay.”
“Game mechanics are totally broken, the aim is buggy and all you got to do is shoot Soviet soldiers in an open field, nothing else.”
“Gameplay loop is extremely short, shallow, and almost non-existent.”
- story29 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The reviews reflect a wide range of opinions on the game's story, with some praising it as deep, touching, and comparable to acclaimed titles like "The Last of Us Part II," while others criticize it for lacking substance or being non-existent. Many players appreciate the emotional impact and moral themes woven into the narrative, highlighting its potential for replayability and engagement. Overall, the story is seen as a significant aspect that can elevate the gaming experience, though its quality varies greatly among different titles.
“This game has it all: interesting story, great shooting model, and wonderfully grand graphics.”
“A game with a deep and thought-provoking story.”
“Best game I have ever played; the gameplay reminded me of my childhood when I used to play my GameCube, and the story is so beautiful.”
“The game does not carry any plot or semantic load.”
“☑️ this game has no story”
“If this game got a story mode and more things to do in endless mode that would make this game an amazing adventure.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising their impressive quality, especially for an indie title. Reviewers highlighted the beautiful art style and realistic visuals, often comparing them favorably to AAA games. However, some users noted issues with performance and graphics quality, indicating that experiences may vary depending on hardware.
“The graphics are marvelous, competing head to head with games like GTA V, RDR 2, and Superman 64.”
“Amazing controls, surreal graphics, outstanding gameplay, unbeatable physics, and overall the best shooter game I've played.”
“Gorgeous graphics, touching story, and beautiful soundtrack.”
“This one differentiates itself by having a cartoon aesthetic and worse handling.”
“Poor graphics.”
“If it's hard for you to stomach such graphic gameplay, this game is not for you.”
- humor22 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of simple, silly, and absurd elements, often eliciting laughter through its outrageous premise, such as a bear wielding a gun. While some players find it to be a hilarious guilty pleasure, others criticize its lack of depth and quality, suggesting that the humor may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy lighthearted, meme-inspired fun, despite its amateurish execution.
“If you want to spend funny and entertaining moments even for a short time, I strongly recommend you to play it.”
“This game is just such a stupidly funny great game that you 100% get.”
“I really enjoy a simple, silly shooter like this - especially with the somewhat funny background.”
“Totally biased, not funny, and the bear impersonation just can't get any worse.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
“I expected some clever humor, but instead, it was just cringeworthy and awkward.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs affecting gameplay mechanics and overall experience. Players describe the game as "buggy" and "broken," leading to a frustrating and repetitive experience. Overall, the stability issues significantly detract from the game's enjoyment and value.
“The game is buggy and not worth getting.”
“Game mechanics are totally broken; the aim is buggy and all you do is shoot Soviet soldiers in an open field, nothing else.”
“It's buggy and has bland, repetitive gameplay.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story and heartwarming moments, particularly the introduction of Mishka in his first form, which resonates deeply with players. The combination of gorgeous graphics and a beautiful soundtrack further enhances the emotional experience, leaving many players moved to tears.
“To top it all off, we get to see Mishka in his first form, and it is truly heartwarming.”
“Touching story.”
“20/10 made me cry.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed view on replayability; while some users criticize the game as lacking replay value and liken it to "shovelware," others highlight its strong narrative and improved replayability compared to similar titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Overall, the game seems to offer varying experiences depending on player expectations and preferences.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Shovelware, achievement printer with no replay value... no amount of vodka, plum brandy, horilka, guitar songs, radiation, or Katyusha salvos could make this fun.”
“The game is basically the same as Cyberpunk 2077, but this one has a better plot and more replayability.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players note that the game involves significant grinding, particularly for farming points, which can detract from its potential as a quick distraction. While some find the grinding aspect engaging, others feel it can become repetitive and tedious.
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“I thought for a moment that this might make for a 5-minute distraction game for a LAN party, but after I figured you could keep farming points by endlessly running around the map in wide circles and making the enemies shoot each other, there went that application out the window.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game effectively captures a distinct Russian atmosphere, immersing players in a setting where iconic elements like the AK-47 and vodka for healing enhance the experience. Reviewers recommend it for those seeking an authentic feel of Russian frontline life.
“The game has a truly Russian spirit and atmosphere, with the AK-47 being the legendary weapon of choice and vodka being used for healing.”
“It perfectly reflects the atmosphere of Russia and the experience of shooting with an AK-47.”
“If you want to feel the atmosphere of the Russians on the front lines, I definitely recommend it.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the experience.”
“Despite the setting, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
“The game’s atmosphere is dull and lifeless, making it hard to stay engaged with the world.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it as the worst they have ever encountered.
“The worst optimization I've ever seen.”
“The game runs poorly on even high-end hardware.”
“Frequent frame drops and stuttering make it unplayable.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect includes the option to view ads by right-clicking, and players can also zoom out using the scroll wheel, suggesting a blend of ad integration and user interface features.
